Grocery shopping and retail shopping: practical information

Have you just arrived in Luxembourg? One of the first things to do when you arrive somewhere is to go shopping. Luxembourg has plenty of stores and places to shop, once you familiarize yourself with where to shop and local customs. These pages contain all the information you need to shop in Luxembourg.

To help you quickly get your bearings when shopping in Luxembourg, here are the eight most important things to know: store opening hours, our shopping tips for saving money, and all the practical information you need to shop with peace of mind.

How to pay for your purchases in Luxembourg?

The euro (EUR) is the official currency in Luxembourg, as it is throughout Europe.

All stores accept cash. If you don't have any euros, you can withdraw cash in euros from ATMs using your bank card. The maximum amount accepted for cash payments in Luxembourg is €15,000.

We do not recommend changing your currency in Luxembourg. There are very few currency exchange offices. Banks reserve this service for their customers, upon prior request. However, you can find some ATMs that allow currency exchange. Please note that these withdrawals may be limited in amount.

All stores accept credit, debit, or charge cards.

Payments can also be made using your bank's mobile app or the Payconiq mobile payment solution.

Check with your bank for more information.

Value added tax in Luxembourg

Prices displayed in stores and services in Luxembourg include value added tax (VAT).

The standard VAT rate in Luxembourg is 17%. However, certain items such as food, books, and medicines may be subject to a reduced VAT rate.

Luxembourg store opening hours

Weekday opening hours

In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, shops and retail outlets are generally open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. at the latest. Some shops close at 6 p.m., while others are closed on Monday mornings.
However, more and more stores are extending their opening hours on Saturday evenings, especially in the capital city of Luxembourg.

Supermarkets and shops located in shopping centers have more flexible hours. They open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. or later.

Store closures on Sundays and public holidays

Store opening and closing times are regulated. With a few exceptions , stores are not allowed to open on Sundays or public holidays such as May 1, for example.

Commercial events such as sales periods, the period before Christmas, Mantelsonndeg, and Freijoershopping are exceptions.

Please note that you should do your shopping the day before public holidays, including buying bread. Most bakeries and pastry shops are also closed!

Special Sunday openings

Sunday opening of essential stores

Hypermarkets, supermarkets, and mini-markets are open on Sunday mornings until 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m.

Some shopping centers, in line with the hypermarkets and supermarkets they house , are open on Sundays on an exceptional basis. The Pall Center shopping center in Oberpallen is open every Sunday and public holiday.

Only the following professions are allowed to open their stores and work on Sundays and public holidays until 6 p.m. at the latest:

• bakeries and pastry shops,
• butchers and caterers,
• consumption salons,
• newsagents, souvenir shops, and tobacconists,
• shops in train stations or airports,
• cafés, hotels, restaurants,
• funeral homes,
• fairs and exhibitions,
• taxis and ambulances.

Traditional Sunday opening hours for stores in Luxembourg

Throughout the year, shops in Luxembourg are exceptionally open on Sundays during special events. On these days , shops are granted exemptions to close later or to open on Sundays. This is particularly the case during the following events:

• Freijoershopping or spring shopping
• Summer sales in June/July
• Mantelsonndeg or Coat Sunday on the Sunday before All Saints' Day
• Christmas shopping: see our article on Advent markets
• Winter sales in January

Please note that Galeries Lafayette in the Hamilius shopping center is open on Sunday afternoons from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Where to shop in Luxembourg?

Overall, Luxembourg has a wide range of shopping options to meet all your everyday and special shopping needs.

Luxembourg City, the place to be for shopping

The Luxembourg capital offers an astonishing mix of traditional shops, international chain stores, luxury boutiques, and ultra-modern shopping centers.

Luxury stores are mainly located on Rue Philippe II in Luxembourg City and more generally in the Ville-Haute district. Here you will find exclusive boutiques of major luxury brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermès, to name but a few.

You can also find designer boutiques, high-end stores, and luxury brands. Major fast fashion chains and more affordable brands are also present, such as H&M, Zara, Uniqlo, and C&A.

The most popular stores are located in the Gare district of Luxembourg City.

Shopping malls in Luxembourg

If you prefer to shop in a larger environment, Luxembourg's shopping centers are the ideal place. You will find shops and brandsthat are less expensive than those on Rue Philippe II, but the shopping experience is just as interesting and entertaining.

Shopping malls are an easy option for finding a range of stores that meet your needs in one place. You will find all kinds of stores for clothing, shoes, jewelry, etc., as well as supermarkets and hypermarkets where you can stock up on food, household products, hygiene products, and more.

What's more, shopping centers are located on the outskirts of towns and cities and have large, convenient parking lots. They also have restaurants and snack bars for a quick bite to eat during your day of shopping.

Local shops

Less visible, local shops and stores are also worth a visit. You can find fabulous bargains or become a regular customer. As you explore Luxembourg, you may discover a store with more artisanal products or a themed selection around a corner or in a square.

Stocking up and doing your weekly shopping

Supermarkets, hypermarkets, and mini-markets

Hypermarkets and supermarkets in Luxembourg offer a rich shopping experience with a diverse range of quality products. From local products to international brands, the shelves are well stocked. Among the most popular supermarkets are Cactus, Auchan, Delhaize, Aldi, Colruyt, and, more recently, Leclerc. Naturata specializesin food and organic products.

Supermarkets offer a wide range of food and household products. These include fresh produce, meat, fish, dairy products, and baked goods. Vegan and organic sections are growing, as are bulk product sections.

You can also find fresh produce at Grand Frais and cheaper items, excluding fresh produce, at Action.

Convenience stores are smaller than supermarkets. They are convenient for quick shopping. The most popular convenience store chains in Luxembourg are Shopi, Proxy Delhaize, Leclerc, and Monoprix. Gas stations also sell a few essential items to meet demand on Sundays and public holidays.

Weekly markets in Luxembourg and elsewhere

The city of Luxembourg and an increasing number of towns and villages have weekly outdoor local markets.

Here you can buy fresh produce, fruit and vegetables, meat, cheese, plants, and other local specialties. Among the most popular markets are the Saturday market in Luxembourg city center, the Wednesday market in Esch-sur-Alzette, and the Sunday market in Howald.

Explore them to find organic products or discover locally grown produce. You can also support local producers and taste the flavors of Luxembourg or the Greater Region.

Don't miss the Advent markets in November/December , where you can stock up on traditional products and original gifts.

Convenience stores

If you need to buy something quickly or outside of store opening hours, you can visit local convenience stores.

You can also find convenience items at gas stations, which have longer opening hours.

You will also find independent food shops in town centers and some villages. Artisans such as butchers, greengrocers, bakers, and pastry chefs charge higher prices than supermarkets, but the quality is often much better.

Buying video, audio, and electronic items

For electronics and household appliances, you can visit stores such as Hifi International, MediaMarkt, Saturn, or Fnac.

Large retailers also sell household appliances and electronics.

Furniture and home furnishings

Are you furnishing your home? You can find large furniture stores such as Ikea across the border in Belgium, Maisons du Monde in the Belle Etoile shopping center or in the Ikea area, Sichel in Gasperich, BO Concept, or Stoll Maitre Matelassier for your bedding and bedroom furnishings.

Where can you find local Luxembourg products?

Want to find out about products made in Luxembourg and buy local? Don't miss the "Lokale Maart" promoted by the Let'z go Local association.

Order online and have it delivered to Luxembourg

If you can't find what you're looking for in Luxembourg stores, you can always order online.

However, some foreign retailers do not deliver to Luxembourg. You can get around the lack of delivery to Luxembourg and continue to order your products from your favorite retailers by using Packup Import, a service offered by Post.lu and Colisexpat.com.

Online sales have grown significantly with Covid. Letzshop.lu, a local digital platform, offers the opportunity to buy products sold in Luxembourg stores online. This is an excellent way to promote Luxembourg businesses when you are unable to travel.

Eshopping.lu is another solution developed to facilitate shopping in Esch-sur-Alzette, the country's second largest city.

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